Gate-latch or the like



I. B.'CLAY.

GATE LATCH OR THE LIKE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. I. I916- 1,347,991 Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

12 15 I'III v I IIIIIIIIIIIIH 1214.. Jam o6 .5. C737 @dhw 1 J. B. CLAY.

GATE LATCH OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED my. i. new.

1,347,99 1 Patented July 27 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 'umiiiiiilli? I 4 UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFlca;

JOSEPH B. CLAY, or CEDAR. FALLS, IowA.

GATE-LATCH on THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d Ji l 27 1926 Application filedApril 1, "1916. Serial No. as 220.

Latches or the like, of which the following is a description.

My inventionbelongs to that general class of devices known as gatelatches, and relates particularly to a device adapted for locking aswinging gate, and especially that type of gate that may be swung ineither dire ion. The invention has among its objects the production of adevice of the kind described that is simple, convenient, durable,

efficient and satisfactory, that may be used wherever found applicable.The invention particularly has among its objects the production of adevice that will securely lock the gate, whether the rigid ortiltingtype, whether tilted or not, at different points at the free orswinging end of the gate, but which device may be easily controlled torelease the gate. lVith the latch herein described stock willnot beaccidentally injured by the same. The latch mechanism is also protectedfrom the weather in a It; also has among its objects the production of adevice,

which, when the gate is pushed or thrown shut, will automatically lockthe gate shut by the closing movement of the gate. 7

Tothis end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described. and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Figure. 1 is a view in elevation of a gate having my latch appliedthereto;

2 is a front elevation and partial sectional view of a portion of thepreferred form of latch;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of a portion ofthe same;

Fig. 4' is a sectional view taken substan-.

tially on line 4;, 4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the latchmember thrown to one side,as indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6, 6 of Fig. 4:,showing the complete device, and

g Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantlally on line 7, 7 of Fig. 2.r

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred form of my device isshown, 1 and 2 represent any style of the fenceor gate posts, betweenwhich is arranged the gate of any suitable type. The gate shown consistsof the end bars 3 and 4, and connecting bars 0, o, the same bemgpfvotally connected together in the gate shown, at points 6, 6, etc. Thegate may be covered with any suitable wire, ,wire netting, or fabric,this depending to a large extent upon the particular use to which thegate is to be put. In the gate shown end bar 3 is pivotally secured tothe post 1 by hinge members 7 7, it being understood that the particularmanner of hanging the gate forms no part of the present invention. Itmay also be mentioned that the gate illustrated is of the tilting ad' justable type, so that the free end of the gate may be raised. orlowered, this being part cularly mentioned because the latch or lockingdevice herein described-is applicable for this type of adjustable gate,regardless of its adjustment.

The particular latch or locking device shown consists substantially oftwo or' more latch or locking devices arranged to be actuated orcontrolled as one; either one, however, being adapted to be used aloneshould only one be desired. A. description ofone will sufliee' for both,as they are substantially identical. As shown, 8 is a base platearranged to be secured to the fence post 2 by bolts or screws 9, theparticular design or shape of the same and method of fastening the plate8 to the post depending upon the style of post to which it is to beattached.

Plate 8 is provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extending flanges10 and 11, and is preferably cut away or recessed as at 13 between theflanges on each side thereof (seeFigs. 6 and 7). The same isqalso formedwith extending lugs 12, the purpose of the same being more fullyexplained hereafter. I flanges 10 and 11 is a latch member .14, formedwith extending or forked arms 15, 15, the latch member beingsubstantially U- shaped in'the preferred construction. The latch memberis preferably enlarged at the ends of the forked arms, as shown, so thatthe stock will not be injured in case they should accidentally strikethe latch member Arranged between the spaced referred to.

the same, as previously mentioned.

in passing through the gateway. The latch member is pivotally secured inplace by a pin or bolt 16 extending through the flanges and latchmember, and is formed with shoulders 17, 17 at each side, as mostclearly shown in Fig. 7. In the preferred construction I providesuitable means for yieldingly opposing the movement of the latchmembers. In the construction shown I employ spring washers 25, whichare'substantially brakes, and prevent the latch members from turning toofar or rebounding when thrown to the open position.

The upper flange 10 is formed with openings 10 therethrough at eachside, through which project the stops or pins 18. The pins shown areformed with heads 19 elongated, which preient their dropping through theopenings through the flange, and the same may be offset or formed withlips at the lower ends, as indicated at 20 (see Figs. 5 and 7 or in anequivalent manner, to prevent their being raised and withdrawn en tirelyfrom the flange. This is most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. Theopenings in the pins are preferably elongated, the purpose of this beingmore fully explained hereafter. countersunk on the lower side about theopenings, so that the pins may be raised or withdrawn to .a point wherethey do not project below the flange. They are of a length to projectinto the path of the latch member 14:, and when the same is in closedposition, the shoulders 17 of the latch abut against the-pins, therebypreventing the pivotal movement of the latch member about the bolt 16.They are preferably of sufficient length to project below the latchmemher and bear against the lugs 12 previously This aiiords a very rigidconstruction, as when the pins are dropped in f stopping position,thepins have a bearing by the latch member. v V

The two pins are connected preferably at each end, between which theyare engaged ,loosely by a link 21, which in the construction shown isformed with hooked ends arranged to extend through eyes 19, orelongated, openings in the pins. The preceding description covers bothof the latch members, which, as shown in the drawings, are The links 21of each latch member are connected by an actuating rod 23, projectingthrough the upper flanges, to the upper link 21. By making openingsthrough the headset the pins elongated, the link connecting the pins isprevented from tipping back on the rod, this applying particularly tothe upper link, which might lock the parts about the link tipped back.Movement of the rod upward releases the latches, or that is, raises thepins, so that the latch .members and gate I have shown the flangeslightly tom cannot spring the same.

ing that the rod 23 is raised and the gate swung as indicated 1n Fig. 4,by the dotted lines, the pins belng raised the latch mem bers are freeto swing with the gate, and

permit the same to be opened. Owing to the brakes, however, tlldiTlS thespring washers 25, or their equivalents, the latches will. i

. cated in Fig. 5, so that they are in engaging position. When the gateis swung back to closed positlon, the same enters between the forks 15,15 and moves the same back to the position indicated in the full linesin Fig. 4, or F 1g. 7, the pins 1n engaging sitrons stopping the gateand latches, and the pins that were supported by the latch members thendrop into engaging positions, locking the gate shut.

,I have shown the two latches described protected by a housing 26. Thehousing shown is formed with the ends 27 and with an extension 28, whichis secured to the flange 10 bythe bolt 16. Any equivalent housing may,of course, be employed, or the manner of securing the housing shown inplace may be modified. The housing prevents snow or rain settling on thelinks and pins and other parts-of the latch covered thereby, andfreezing, and possibly impairing the efficiency of the device.

It will be obvious that with this construction the gate is securelyengaged or locked shut at more than one point, so that stock bearingagainst it at the top or bot- One of the important advantages oi theconstruction f herein shown and described isthat ii the gate engagesonly one latch where'two are employed, owing to the tilting o1 the gateor Sagging'of the gate post, the device is entirely operative, the sameas if both latches were engaged. The construction also permits the gateto be swung in either direction and automaticallylocks it wnen turned toclosed positionf The latches are conveniently controlled in oneoperation'by means of the rod 23, and it may'be noted that while onlytwo latch devices areshown connected by the rod, any number may beemployed by arranging them intermediate the two devices shown, or ateither side, and eX- tending the rod so as to engage the additionallink. If desired any suitable means may beiemployed for drawing the roddown.

7 While two devices are shown as the preferred construction, itis, ofcourse, obvious that one will work equally as well, and in the samemanner, when only one device is desired, the advantage of the two beingmerely locking of the gate near the top and bottom for the purposes setforth. lVhere only one of the devices is employed instead of theplurality shown, the connecting link 21 might be emitted, although theconstruction would not be as convenient. Owing to the elongated openingsthrough the heads of the pins 19, some play is permitted,'so that thelatches are independently operable. In other words, when either the topor bottom latch member is closed, the pin for locking the same mayengage the closed latchVmember, although the other latch member maystill remain open, and its corresponding locking pin shown remainsraised. It is also obvious that the results and operation would be thesame if the latches were mounted on the gate post at instead of on thefence post 2 at the gate opening or if a wooden gate was employed inplace of the steel gate shown. 5

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that Variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same within the scope oftheappended :claims without departing from the spirit of my invention;hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactform, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shownand described or uses men tioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A gatelatch of the kind described comprising a base plate provided with aprojecting horizontal flange, a substantially U-shaped latch memberarranged below and pivotally carried by said flange, a pair of pinsarranged at each side of said flange and movable downwardly therethroughin the path of said latch member, means on said pins for limiting theupward movement thereof, said U-shaped member having shoulders arrangedto normally abut against the projecting ends of said pins below the baseplate flange.

2. A gate latch of the kind described,

' comprising a base plate provided with a projecting horizontal flange,a substantially U-shaped latch member pivotally carried by said flange,a pair of pins arranged one at each side of said flange and movabletherethrough, said pins oflset at their lower ends arranged to limitupward movement thereof, said U-shaped member having shoulders arrangedto normally abut against said pins, and a link loosely connecting saidpins, and means for raising said link.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, aplate providedwith a pair of projecting horizontal flanges, a U- shaped memberpositioned between said flanges, and pivotally secured therebetween on avertical axis,-a pair of pins arranged to project through the upperflange, and movable into the path of said U-shaped member, said U-shapedmember provided with shoulders arranged to abut against said pins, alink connecting said pins, and means, for controlling said link.

4. In a gate latch of the kind described, the combination oi? a pair ofplates, each plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontal flanges, aU-shaped latch member for each plate arranged between said flanges,means for pivotally securing said latch members in position, a pair ofpins for each plate, said pins vertically adjustable and of a length toextend below the upper flange in the path of said latch members, a linkfor and connecting each pair of pins, and a rod connecting said links.

5. In a gate latch of the kind described, the combination of a pair ofplates, each plate provided with a pair of spaced horizontal flanges, aU-shaped latch member for each plate arranged betweensaid flanges,

means for pivotally securing said latch members in position,a pair ofpins for each plate, said pins ertically adjustable and of a length toextend below the'upper. flange in the path of said latch members,abutments for the lower ends of said pins, said abut- 'ments integrallyformed with said plates and disposed below said latch member, a,

link for and connecting each pair of pins, and a rod pivotallyconnecting said links.

6. In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a basehaving aipair of projecting horizontal flanges spaced from each other,aU-shaped latch memberpivoted on a vertical axis between said flanges,said plate recessed below the upper flange on each side, said recessesof a size to receive the edge of said latch member when moved openings,and alink connecting said stops.

In a locking device of the kind de scribed and in combination, aplurality of latches, each comprising a base having a pair of projectinghorizontal flanges spaced from each other, a U-shaped latch memberpivoted on a vertical axis between said flanges,.said upper flangeprovided with an opening therethrough, at each side adjacent the rearend ofsaid latch member, a vertically movable stop projectingthrougheach opening, said stops provided with means for limiting the verticalmovement thereof through said openings, and of a length to cut awaybetween said flanges ronreach side, thereof, vert cally movable pinsextending through the upper flange in the path of said latchmember andarranged to engage the same when in central position, means for limitingthe vertical movement of said pins, said plate provided with an abutmentformed integral therewith in the plane of the lower flange, and of alength to engage the lower ends of said pins when dropped to operatlveengaging positions, a link loosely connecting said pins, and a rodpivotally connected to the lower link, and projecting through theflanges of the upper base plate,

and pivotally connected to the upper link, whereby the movement of saidrod will control all of said pins.

9.- In a gate latch of the kind described and in combination, a baseplate provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extending flanges, asuitably shaped latch member pivotally supported between said flanges,resilient means for yieldingly opposing any .movement of the latchmember within its limit of travel, and means carried by one of saidflanges and movable into the path of said latch member for normallyengaging the latch member and preventing pivotal movement thereof.

l0. In a gate latch of the kind described and ln combination, a baseplate provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extend I ing flanges,a suitably shaped latch member pivotally supported between said flanges,resilient means arranged between one flange and the latch memberfor'yieldingly opposing any movement of the latch member within itslimit of travel, and means carried'by one of said flanges and movableinto the path of said latch member for-normally engaging the latchmember and preventing pivotal movement thereof.

11. In a gate latch of the kind described andin combination, a baseplate provided with a pair of spaced horizontally extending flanges, asuitably shaped latch member pivotally supported between said flanges,resilient means for yieldingly opposing any movement of the latch memberwithin the limits. of its travel, means carried by one of said flangesand movable into the path of said latchmember for normally engaging thelatch member and preventing pivotal movement thereof, and a housingcarried by the upper flange for substantially inclosing said latchengaging means.

12. A gate latch of the kind described, comprising a base plate providedwith a projecting flange, a substantially U-shaped latch memberpivotally carried by said flanges, a pair of pins arranged at each sideof said flange, and movable into the path of said U-shaped latch member,a link loosely connecting the said pins, and a vertically movablesupport for said link, said link loosely carried by said support.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOSE-PH B. CLAY.

Gno. F. W001).

